Need help fast!

[seumas12345]

Guys, my albino carpet had a feed yesterday, I took him out of the cage this arvo to see how he was doing, he was clicking, pushing his throat out, and kept opening his mouth... I immediately thought, RI

I took him to the vet straight away, and he saw the best reptile vet in Darwin. The vet said that it could be normal and that he might have stretched too much while feeding or eaten it awkwardly. He had a look inside and said that it there weren't any signs of an RI inside the mouth.

I took him home, and just got him out again and he's still doing it, opening his mouth almost every 30seconds to a minute... I managed to capture this. I really need any experienced herpers to tell me if it looks normal? One thing I noticed, what is that on the roof of the mouth near the snout??

Another thing to note is he came up with AAE from Brissy last Monday so I've only had him a week He seemed fine when I first got him but could the stress of the trip have resulted in this or is it from the feed?

(Also, temps, humidity etc... EVERYTHING is perfect I have raised another snake in this exact enclosure before.)

 

[mysnakesau]

The best vet in Darwin I would presume would have noticed that if it was anything to worry about. But it could be an early sign of stomatitis, otherwise known as mouth rot or canker. It develops as cheesy looking gunk on their gum lines. I would be going straight back to the vet with him, to rule that out. It is contagious to other snakes, too. It doesn't come up like that from a stressful trip.

 

[seumas12345]

The best vet in Darwin I would presume would have noticed that if it was anything to worry about. But it could be an early sign of stomatitis (mouth rot). It develops as cheesy looking gunk on their gum lines. I would be going straight back to the vet with him, to rule that out. It is contagious to other snakes, too.

Yeah he only checked the gums coz the little guy was being difficult and wouldn't open his mouth.... So I was wondering if anyone knew the signs for mouth rot, apart from the gunk along the gum line...? In particular the stuff near the nose, or is that a normal looking mouth?

 

[mysnakesau]

Hard to tell what that is, but otherwise his mouth looks healthy, to me. Other signs of mouth rot is abnormal closure of his mouth, small red spots of hemorrhage - one of the biggest give way especially just after a big meal. Advancing you will notice swelling of the mouth, and a cheesy ooze along the gums.

I just quoted these symptoms from my book Whats wrong with my snake

did the vet also check that he has not got part of his meal lodged part the way down which will cause irritation, not sure if yawning is a sign but anything is possible.

 

[seumas12345]

nah he didnt check that. I just got one of the girls that works at the pet shop to have a look at the photo, and she called up the owner (who is a really good breeder) and they said to take him back to the vet.

 

[Bugsy]

The best vet in Darwin I would presume would have noticed that if it was anything to worry about. But it could be an early sign of stomatitis, otherwise known as mouth rot or canker. It develops as cheesy looking gunk on their gum lines. I would be going straight back to the vet with him, to rule that out. It is contagious to other snakes, too. It doesn't come up like that from a stressful trip.

Not trying to be rude but my diamond got mouthrot when he was younger, and he didnt catch it from another snake. I only had one other snake and she was fine, didnt have any signs what so ever. What caused it was from changing him into a bigger enclosure, with the temps not high enough (my mistake, had a bad thermo) and not enough hides. He was only in the cage 2 days before he started showing signs. When i took him to the reptile vet at canon in wollongong, he said stress and temps play a big part with snakes getting mouth rot.

 

[Serpentor]

I can't tell for sure from the photo if those yellow spots at the front of his top jaw are under the skin or not. They look to me like they are, and not some sort of cheesy deposit. I'd be inclined to believe what the vet said to be honest. can you see that the food item is moving nicely through him? I ask because of what mysnakesau said about food becoming lodged in there. What was the food item, and how big was it in proportion to his size?

 

[mysnakesau]

Not trying to be rude but my diamond got mouthrot when he was younger, and he didnt catch it from another snake. I only had one other snake and she was fine, didnt have any signs what so ever. What caused it was from changing him into a bigger enclosure, with the temps not high enough (my mistake, had a bad thermo) and not enough hides. He was only in the cage 2 days before he started showing signs. When i took him to the reptile vet at canon in wollongong, he said stress and temps play a big part with snakes getting mouth rot.

Oh well there ya go. I am just taking information out of my book, it suggests nothing about stress. It is contagious. Doesn't mean the others will get it but it can be transmitted when the infection is present.

 

[seumas12345]

I can't tell for sure from the photo if those yellow spots at the front of his top jaw are under the skin or not. They look to me like they are, and not some sort of cheesy deposit. I'd be inclined to believe what the vet said to be honest. can you see that the food item is moving nicely through him? I ask because of what mysnakesau said about food becoming lodged in there. What was the food item, and how big was it in proportion to his size?

I know what you mean. They don't look like cheesy deposits, more like a rash or raw area, same at the back of the throat (if you can see). The rat is definitely in his belly, and it was exactly the same size as last weeks rat. I did notice that it took him a considerable time longer to find the head of the rat this time, he kept biting the neck and trying to take it from there... But eventually he found the top and it went down nicely.

 

[seumas12345]

Oh well there ya go. I am just taking information out of my book, it suggests nothing about stress. It is contagious. Doesn't mean the others will get it but it can be transmitted when the infection is present.

Yeah I though stress could be a factor.. Considering he only arrived last Monday and is in a new cage with new temps (even though the temps are good, 28 cold end, 34 hot end).

 

[Serpentor]

what does his tongue look like? is it forked? is he flicking it regularly?

 

[seumas12345]

what does his tongue look like? is it forked? is he flicking it regularly?

His tongue flicks regularly and isnt stuck together.

 

[Bugsy]

Maybe the food item has scratched its throat or something on the way down, and its causing pain or discomfort. id be getting it back to the vet though.

 

[seumas12345]

Yeah I called the vet's emergency line and he's going back in first thing tomorrow morning

 

[Niall]

May i ask what did you feed him?
As with Chickens beaks and feet can cut/scratch the snakes thoat and that can course irritation to it.
Tell us what the Vet says tomorrow i will be interested in what they have to say.

 

[seumas12345]

May i ask what did you feed him?
As with Chickens beaks and feet can cut/scratch the snakes thoat and that can course irritation to it.
Tell us what the Vet says tomorrow i will be interested in what they have to say.

It was a rat. It seemed to go down alright... I'll let you guys know how it goes tomorrow. Cheers

 

[seumas12345]

Well good news, he is still alive... Bad news, he seems alot worse... Weezing and constantly opening his mouth to breath... I'm just waiting here stressing until the vet opens! Wish me luck guys!
Cheers,
Seumas

 

[mark83]

good luck mate. hope hes ok.

 

[Bugsy]

Good luck dude, keep us updated.

 

[JasonL]

The fact thats there's no visual signs isn't good.... hope all ends well, best of luck.